take a live look at new york city. welcome back to morning joe. back with us onset we have mike barnacle. >> can we go right there? >> we got to set this up first. we've all been saying the same thing around the set. phone calls coming in all last night from democratic friends, my independent friends, republicans. where does this come from? we've never seen this mitt romney before. but you say you have. >> yes, this is how mitt romney became governor of massachusetts in 2002 during a series of debates. he was exactly this way, as he was last night. he came in prepared. he had a plan. he executed it. he was armed with specific information. he went right at the opponent. then it was the governor running against him. he did that again last night, very effectively. >> and he seemed, for the first time, comfortable in his skin. we've been pounding mitt romney, despite what cheetos eaters thought on the internet, because he had a horrible, horrible month. he was uncomfortable in his skin. last night that guy was -- i agree, the best republican debate in